Tag Archives: divorce

Divorce filings typically peak in January each year. Couples decide to wait until after the holidays, or postpone until the first of the year for tax reasons. Whatever the reason, it can mean serious changes in lifestyle and financial status.

In this article published January 31 on Morningstar Advisor.com, CFLGSD’s Justin A. Reckers, CFP, CDFA, AIF, director of financial planning at Pacific Wealth Management and managing director of Pacific Divorce Management, LLC; and Robert A. Simon, Ph.D., forensic psychologist, trial consultant, expert witness, and alternative dispute resolution specialist offer sound advice to financial professionals to help them understand the emotions and thought processes going through a client’s mind when he or she seeks guidance as the result of a divorce. It’s advice anyone dealing with these circumstances can benefit from.

The advantage of collaborative divorce is that a financial professional is involved from the beginning and can help a couple work through the many difficult questions and decisions involved alongside attorneys and mental health professionals for a seamless, respectful process.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Attorney and CFLG San Diego member Shawn Weber joins hosts David McElveen and Ryan White on ESPN 1700 AM Radio for an interview on “The Real Estate Radio Hour” on January 24, 2013.

Weber talks about his new guide answering common questions about real estate ownership for people changing marital status, including the advantages of collaborative divorce. Listen to the interview here.

January is International Child Centered Divorce Month – a whole month dedicated to alerting parents about the effects of divorce on children and teaching them how to prevent emotional and psychological damage to children during and after a divorce. One of the named promoters of this concept is a helpful website, Our Family Wizard.

The Our Family Wizard website can make parenting after divorce easier for everyone.

Our Family Wizard provides child custody and co-parenting tools to divorcing couples. Parenting between two people who are no longer a couple, and not in the same home, can become complicated. The Our Family Wizard website is an effective, common sense way for you and your co-parent to create parenting schedules, communicate important kid-related items with your co-parent, and make and keep a record of shared child-related expenses.

San Diego Family Court judges frequently recommend (and sometimes order) parents to make use of the tools Our Family Wizard offers. Their goal in providing positive resources for parents is to improve the lives of children of divorce. My clients who use the site appreciate its simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Most parents are aware that how you conduct yourself during and after the divorce process will impact your children for years to come. Studies reveal that divorce does not necessarily harm children, and in some instances may improve children’s lives. But there is no doubt that a high level of conflict between you and your spouse can seriously damage your kids.

Fortunately, divorcing parents now have options and resources available to help keep conflict with one another to a minimum. They are no longer stuck with going through an adversarial divorce in a court of law, with attorneys who are profiting off the conflict. Instead, they have options. Among the best: choosing attorneys who promote the childrens’ best interests by offering a collaborative approach to divorce. With the appropriate level of professional expertise and support, you and your spouse are able to focus on what truly is important to your family’s lives.

In this post from the blog PsychCentral.com, author Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D, ABPP, offers advice not just on what to say, but how to say it. Phillips also points out that children will watch what you do and how you act even more closely. Read Phillips’ advice here. From your experience, has she got it right?

Don’t jump off the fiscal cliff in the midst of a divorce without a safety net in place.

With the fiscal cliff seemingly looming as a reality, Justin Reckers, CFP, CDFA of Pacific Divorce Management has advice on financial planning strategies if your divorce settlement could be affected by this situation. Read more here and talk to legal and financial professionals such as the team at CFLG San Diego if you need to take action before the end of the year.

The much beloved and admired children’s TV series “Sesame Street” discussed the topic of divorce for the very first time in the show’s history this week. Producers tried putting a segment together in 1992, but when they tested it with children it didn’t go over so well.

Armed with new research and a different approach, the producers believe they’ve got it right this time, and the children who previewed the presentation agreed.

It seems safe to say that “Sesame Street” would endorse the collaborative divorce philosophy, putting the children’s needs and emotional well-being first, assuring them their parents love them no matter where they live.

The show has addressed many difficult topics over the years including AIDS, natural disasters, racism, and adoption. Of all the tough topics on the show, divorce has been among the most challenging.

Read more here and let us know what you think of the “Sesame Street” approach.

The first family Christmas after a divorce can be daunting for anyone. Read here how newly divorced mom Heidi Stevens handled the situation with a promise for a pink Christmas tree. Do you have tips to share about navigating that first holiday – or birthday, summer vacation, or school play – after parents get divorced?

Attorney Shawn Weber of Brave Weber & Mack and a member of CFLG San Diego appeared on KPBS Evening Edition with anchor Peggy Pico on Monday, December 3 for an interview about the impact of state court system budget cutbacks in the family law courts, and how individuals with family law matters could be affected. Weber encouraged people to give more consideration to seeking alternatives such as collaborative methods rather than pursuing matters in the courts. Please watch the interview here.

CFLG San Diego member Shawn Weber, attorney with Brave, Weber & Mack, discussed the impact of recent budget cutbacks to San Diego County’s family law courts on KPBS Radio’s “Midday Edition” with host Maureen Cavanaugh on Monday, December 3. Weber explained changes affecting court operations, and how this might negatively affect individuals with family law matters. Weber urged listeners to consider alternatives to going to court, such as collaborative law or mediation. Please listen to the interview at this link.

CFLG San Diego member Myra Chack Fleischer, Fleischer & Associates, offers excellent advice for divorced families on avoiding conflicts during the holiday season and making them more enjoyable for everyone in her latest column for Communities at Washington Times.

As Myra points out, all of us – attorneys, mental health professionals and financial advisors included – would rather enjoy the holidays with our own families than be called into action on behalf of stressed out clients during the season. Due to the recent court cutbacks, emergency filings are an even greater strain on everyone. This is the time to think ahead, anticipate and solve problems so you can enjoy your holiday season with minimum stress for you and your children.

The bonus: you’ll not only avoid stress but also any added financial expense from legal bills.